SINGAPORE — From allowing sensitive information to be redacted from court materials to empowering agencies to probe the misuse of video-recorded interviews, changes to the Criminal Procedure Code were passed in Parliament on Friday (March 8).

But this was not before two Members of Parliament (MPs) raised questions about some amendments to the framework, which guides criminal investigations and procedures for criminal hearings, such as trials and appeals.

Under the changes, agencies such as the Central Narcotics Bureau will be able to investigate offences relating to the misuse of video-recorded interviews, which complement the practice of taking a suspect or accused person’s statement in writing. These offences include the unauthorised copying or distribution of a video-recorded statement.

Previously, the police could investigate such offences, but other agencies using the tool in their probes could not.

On Friday, Workers’ Party chairman Sylvia Lim asked which agencies have started using video-recorded interviews and how useful they have been for investigations and as evidence in court.

Senior Minister of State for Law Edwin Tong said the serious sexual crime branch of the Criminal Investigation Department has used it in investigations into rape cases, as has the Central Narcotics Bureau for probes into certain drug-trafficking offences.

Several police land divisions are also preparing to use the tool.

Based on early feedback, it has been useful to investigators, but it has not been used as evidence so far, Mr Tong said.

Mr Christopher de Souza of Holland-Bukit Timah Group Representation Constituency (GRC) asked about the training programmes or arrangements that would be in place to ensure officers in these agencies, who may have a different skill set, would develop the expertise and tap the resources needed to investigate each case.

Mr Tong said that the relevant agencies would assess the kind of training needed.

He added that a workgroup comprising Home Affairs and Law ministries, the Attorney-General’s Chambers, the police and other law-enforcement agencies oversees the development of training plans, policies and operational procedures.

It ensures that the roll-out of video-recorded interviews is uniform across agencies.

REDUCING OR AVOIDING REMAND FOR YOUNG OFFENDERS

Meanwhile, the changes to the code also remove the possibility of backdating reformative training, a sentence passed on young offenders who commit serious offences.

Ms Lim, who is an MP for Aljunied GRC, said it was important that these youngsters are not incarcerated longer than necessary, as this will affect their social reintegration.

She asked about the steps that will be taken to avoid or minimise remand for these offenders, such as whether the prosecution will be more prepared to ask for lower bail amounts or whether cases will be fast-tracked.

The Law Ministry said previously that reformative training cannot be backdated. This is to preserve the effectiveness of rehabilitation, as backdating such sentences shortens the time spent in rehabilitation programmes. It may also prevent the offender from completing those programmes as designed.

On Friday, Mr Tong said that the agencies would identify at an early stage remand cases where the accused persons are under age 21, including before they are charged.

The prosecution and investigators will then take steps to speed up the cases so as to reach sentencing as quickly as possible. In suitable cases, remand could be avoided by offering lower bail amounts.

“Release on bail with electronic tagging can also be used as an alternative to higher bail amounts, where appropriate,” he said.